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No. 613,585 Patented Nov. I, I898. J. W.- MINER.

comsmAnon LOCK.

(Application filed Jan. 5, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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(No Model.)

No. 6l3,585. Patented Nov. I, I898.

J. W. MIN

COMBINATION (Application filed Jan. 5, 1898.)

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N0. 6l3,585. Patented Nov. I, I898. J. W. MINER.

. COMBINATION LOCK.

(Application filed Jan. 5, 1898.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3. v

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES W. MINER, OF JOHNSTOWN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO PHILIP KECK, OF SAME PLACE.

COMBINATION-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 613,585, dated November 1, 1898.

Application filed January 5, 1898.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES W. MINER, of Johnstown, in the county of Fulton and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Combination-Lock, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in combination-locks particularly adapted for use on safes, vaults, and the like; and the object is to provide a lock of this character in which there are tumblers representing two sets of combinations, one independent of the other, but both operated by a single manipulating-spindle.

Another object is to so construct the parts that should the outer plate and the spindleoperating knob on a safe-door be removed by force of an explosion or otherwise the lock mechanism may remain intact.

I will describe a combination-lock embodying my invention and then point out the novel features in the appended claims. 7

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is an inside elevation of a lock mechanism embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an inside elevation with certain parts broken away to more clearly show other parts. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is a similar section, but showing the parts in a different position. Fig. 5 is an outside view of a portion of the door and showing the operating spindle-knobs. Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the tumblers and their operating mechanism. Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6, showing a face view of a governing-cam employed. Fig. Sis a section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 6, and Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9 9 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designatesthe door of a safe, vault, or the like and substantially of the ordinary construction as to packing and plates. The inner side of the door 1 is provided with achamber 2, in which the lock mechanism, to be hereinafter described, is located, and this chamber is closed by an inner plate 3, secured to the walls of the chamber in any desired manner. Secured to Serial No. 665,619. (No model.)

the inner side of the door is a bearing-sleeve 4, and secured to a plate 5 is a similar bearing-sleeve 5. This plate 5 is supported on posts extended from the safe-door. These bearing sleeves 4t and 5 extend toward each other; but there is a space between their adjacent ends to allow for the play of the governing-cam, as will be hereinafter described.

Mounted to rotate and to move longitudi nally in the sleeves 4 and 5 is the combination manipulating-spindle 6, the outer end of which is made angular to engage in a correspondingly-shaped opening in the knobspindle 7. The knob-spindle 7 for convenience in placing it in position is extended through two blocks 8, each of semicircular form and each provided with a semicircular channel to receive the knob-spindle. The blocks 8 are provided with an annular channel 9, in which plates 10 and 11 engage. These plates 10 and 11 are each provided with asemicircular opening, in which the blocks are placed, as

clearly indicated in Fig. 6, and to prevent an outward movement of the spindle relatively to the blocks when the parts are in position in the door the inner end of the knob-spindle is provided with an annular shoulder 12,which engages against the inner ends of the blocks 8. By'this construction should powder or other explosive be inserted in the space around the blocks 8 orinward thereof or in any other place around the knob-spindle for the'purpose of breaking the lock the force of the explosion will be such as to blow the blocks outward, carrying with them the knobspindle 7, which will relieve itself from the spindle 6, there being a removable connection between the two, as described. Therefore it is obvious that such explosion will have no particular effect on the combination or locking mechanism.

A graduated ring 14 surrounds the spindl'e 7 at its outer side, and the spindle has an indicator-mark 15, designed to register with the marks on the ring 14 to indicate when the combination-tumblers are in the proper position. There are two sets of tumbler-disks, designed to be operated, one set independently of the other, by rotating the spindle 6. I have here shown as mounted to rotate on the sleeve 4 a series of tumblerdisks 10, 17, 18, and 19, and mounted to rotate on the sleeve 5 are similar disks 20, 21, and 22. It may be here stated that the number of disks employed is immaterial, and

therefore I do not confine my invention to the number here shown. Each tumbler or combination-disk has a notch 23 in its periphery, which notches must all be put in alinement when the locking-bolts are to be moved to their open position. Each disk is provided on its face adjacent to the face of the next disk with a lug 24, and on the opposite face of each disk, excepting the ones nearest the walls of the lock, is a pin 25, designed to en gage with the lug 24 on the face of an adjacent disk. The lugs 24 of the several tumbler-disks of a set will be variously set or arranged, so that a certain manipulation of the spindle must take place to turn the several tumbler-disks into proper position, and for convenience in changing the location of the ing 24 it is projected laterally from a collar 26, and the periphery of this collar 26 is provided with notches, in either one of which a 'pin 27 on the tumbler-disk may be engaged to hold the lug 24 in its adjusted position.

The collar 26 may be held against the tumbler-disk by means of a washer 28, which is held from rotation relatively to the sleeve on which it is mounted by means of a lug 29 on the inner periphery of the washer and engaging in a notch formed in the sleeve. The washers on the tumbler-disks 16 and 20, however, are held in position by means of screws 30,which engage in tapped holes in the ends of the sleeves, and the heads of these screws are flattened at one side to engage against the spindle 6, so as to prevent the said screws from working loose, but not, however, to retard the rotary movements of the spindle. The washers 28 of the inner disks will bear frictionally against the next disk, so that said next disk may be turned backward or forward, as the case may be, without imparting motion to the one inward of it.

Rigidly mounted on the spindle 6 isa governing-cam 31, the smaller diameter of which is substantially equal to the diameter of the tumbler-disks inward of the notches 23. At one side this governing-cam 31 has a pin 32, adapted to engage with the lug 24 of the disk 16, and on its opposite side it has a pin 33, adapted to engage with the lug 24 on the disk 20.

I will now describe the locking-bolts and the means for operating them. I have here 1 shown three horizontally-movable locking- 41. The bolts 37 and 38 have bearings, respectively, in blocks 42 43, and these bolts 37 and 38 are connected to the bolts 34 and 3G by means of angle-levers 44, one arm of an angle-lever being attached to the horizontallymovable bolt and the other arm being pivoted to the vertically-movable bolt. Therefore it is obvious that when the bolts 34 and 36 are moved inward an inward movement will be imparted to the bolts 37 and 38, and when the first-named bolts are moved outward the last-named bolts will also be moved outward.

The central bolt 35 is extended from a block 45, on the under side of which is a rack 46, meshing with a segment-gear 47, loosely mounted on a setting-spindle 48. This block 45 is provided at one side with a slot having its side Walls undercut or dovetailed to engage and slide upon a correspondingly-shaped rib on a sliding block 49,which has a rack 50 at its lower side engaging with a segmentgear 51, also loosely mounted on the settingspindle 48. The spindle 48 is designed to rotate either one of the segments 47 or 51, one

independently of the other, or said spindle may rotate without imparting motion to said segments. To provide for this, the spindle 48 is longitudinally movablerthrough an opening in the door.

Rigidly mounted on the inner end of the spindle 48 is a cross-head 52, designed to be engaged in a recess 53, formed in the face of the segment 47, and outward of the segment 51 a cross-head 54 is rigidly mounted on the spindle 48 and is adapted to be engaged in a recess 55, formed in the segment 51. The space between the cross-heads 53 and 54 is somewhat greater than the combined thickness of the two segments 47 and 51. Therefore when the setting-spindle is moved to a certain position it may be rotated relatively to the segment-gears, because the cross-heads will at this time be out of engagement with the segments. By drawing the spindle outward, however, the cross-head 52 may be engaged with the segment 47 and at this time the cross-head 54 will be seated in a recess formed in the inner plates of the door and entirely clear of the segment 51. By moving the spindle 48 to its extreme inward limit the cross-head 54 will be engaged with the seg ment 51 and the cross-head 52 will be disengaged from the segment 47, so that the segment 51 may be rotated with the spindle, while the segment 47 remains stationary. The outer end of the setting-spindle 48 is provided with an index 56, designed to be placed in register with either one of the marks indicated by Figs. 1 and 2 on a ring 57 surrounding the spindle. The object of this is to indicate when the spindle is in proper position to allow the manipulation of either set of the tumbler-disks.

Movable vertically in guideways formed in a block 58 is a keeper-bar 5.9,having an opening at its upper portion, into which a lug on the end of the block 45 may move when said keeper-bar is in its lower position. Having a swinging connection with the lower end of the keeper-bar 59 is one end of a lever 61. The other end of this lever 61 has a link connection 62 with one end of a lever 63, the opposite end of said lever having a bearing between fingers 64 and 65, extended from a rod 66, movable in a guide-block 67, attached to the door, and having at its lower end a crossbar 68, designed to drop into the notches of the tumbler-disks when said notches are in alinement. The end of the lever 61 near the keeper-bar 59 is weighted, as indicated at 69, so that said weight may move the bar 59 downward by gravity as the cross-bar 68 enters the notches. At its central portion the cross-bar 68 is provided with a roller 70, designed to engage the periphery of the governing-cam 31 and prevent any undue friction in turning said cam.

The segment 51 is designed in its operation to move the spindle 6 longitudinally to put it in proper position to operate either one of the sets of tumbler-disks. From the block 49 a link 71 extends and has a pivotal connection with one arm of an angle-lever 72. The other arm of this angle-lever has a balland-socket connection with a screw 73, the inner end of which has a ball-and-socket connection with the end of the spindle 6. Therefore when the angle-lever 72 swings on its axis the ball-and-socket connections will allow this movement relatively to the spindle, and at the same time the spindle may be moved longitudinally.

To prevent the ball-bearing 74 from turning on its screw-thread engagement with the pin 73, I may employ a spring 75, connected at one end to the lever 72 and engaging at the other end in the notch of the ball. When it is desired to remove the lever 72 from connection with the pin 73 for the purpose of swinging said lever outward, the spring 75 is to be disengaged from the ball-bearing and then by inserting a screw-driver in the slot thereof it may be turned 01? the screw of the pin 73, as said pin will be held from rotation by means of a lug 76, extended from it and adapted to engage with a pin 77, extended from the lever 72. This outward movement of the lever 72 is only necessary when it is desired to remove the tumbler-disks from the spindle to change the combination.

The lever 72 is pivoted 011 the guidewayblock 58, and the pivot passes through an outwardly-opening bayonet-slot 78, formed in the lever 72. In its swinging position the lever will be held in proper position on the pivot by means of a screw 79, passing through the lever and engaging at one side of the pivot. By removing this screw 79, however, the lever 72 may be moved downward and then moved off the pivot and swung to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4.

In operation the setting-spindle 48 is to be moved inward to engage the cross-head 54 with the segment 51. Then by turning the indicator-mark 56 to the mark indicated at 1 on the ring 57 the block 50 will be moved in a direction to swing the lever 72 to force the spindle 6 outward or toward 'the spindle-section 7. This will of course draw the governing-cam into a position to bring its pin 32 into the circumferential line of the lug 24 on the disk 16. Then by rotating the spindle 6 a predetermined number of times, as indicated by the graduations on the ring 14, the tumbler-disk .16 will be rotated to a position to bring its notch 23 in line with the cross-bar 68. Then by rotating the spindle in the opposite direction the pin 32 of the cam will engage with the opposite side of the lug on the disk 16 and rotate said disk in the opposite direction, so that its pin will engage with the lug 24 of the tumbler-disk 17 and move said disk to a position to bring its notch uppermost or in line with the cross-bar 68, and this operation will of course be carried out to set the disks 18 and 19. After this set of disks shall have been set in the proper position the setting-spindle 45 is to be rotated to bring its mark 56 opposite the figure 2 on the ring 57. This will rotate the segment 51 in a direction to operate the lever 72 to draw the spindle 6 inward and bring the'pin 33 of the cam 31 in the circumferential line of the lug 24 on the disk 20. Then the same operation is gone through to set the several disks of the second set to bring their notches uppermost. When the notches of all-the disks are uppermost, the smaller diameter of the cam 31 may be turned in line with these notches upon a reverse rotary movement of said cam, the roller at this time bearing upon the periphery of the cam and gradually moving downward, so that the cross-bar will move into the notches of the several disks. I The roller will prevent any noise or click as the parts come together. Then the Weight 69 will rock the lever 61, allowing the cross-bar 68 to drop into the notches, and this movement of the lever 61 of course will draw the keeper-bar 59 downward, so that the opening 60 therein is in line with the end of the block 45. Then by drawing the setting-spindle 48 outward to engage the cross-head 52 with the segment 47 the said segment may be moved by rotating the spindle 48 to move the several lockingbolts 34 to 38 out of engagement with the door-casing.

It may be here stated that the combination of the several tumbler-disks may be changed by removing the inner or second set of disks and then removing the spindle 6 and giving it a half or a quarter turn, as may be desired, with relation to the section 7 of the spindle. Then of course the second set of disks must be replaced.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A combination-lock, comprising two sets of tumbler-disks arranged in alinement, a spindle extended through said disks, a cam on said spindle between the sets of disks, a setting-spindle at one side of the first-named spindle, and connections between said settingspindle and the first-named spindle, whereby said first-named spindle may be moved longitudinally to operate in connection with either set of tumbler-disks, substantially as specified.

2. A combination-lock, comprising two sets of tumbler-disks, one set being mounted to rotate independently of the other set, a spindle mounted to rotate and to move longitudinallyin sleeves upon which the tumbler-disks are mounted to rotate, a settingspindle for imparting movement to said longitudinallymovable spindle, to place it in operative connection with one set of tumbler-disks, the said setting-spindle also having operative connection with the lock-bolt, and means connected with the first-named spindle for operating the tumbler-disks, substantially as specified.

3. A combination-lock, comprising independent sets of tumblers, a spindle for operating said sets of tumblers, one set independent-ly of the other set, a vertically-movable keeper-bar governed in its movement by the position of the tumblers, a locking-bolt governed in its movement in one direction by said keeper-bar, a rotary spindle adjacent to the first-named spindle, a segment-gear adapted to be rotated by said rotary spindle, and a rack on the locking-bolt engaging the said segment-gear, substantially as specified.

4. A combination-lock, comprising rotary tumblers, each provided with a notch in its periphery, means for imparting rotary movement to said tumblers to bring the notches of the several tumblers into alinement, a part movable into said notches, a keeper-barhaving an opening near its end, a lever having pivotal connection with said keeper-bar, a lever having connection with the part movable into the notches of the tumblers, a link connection between said two levers, and a locking-bolt held in its locking position by said keeper-bar and adapted to move longitudinally when the opening in said keeper-bar is opposite the inner end of the locking-bolt, substantially as specified.

5. A combination-lock, comprising sets of rotary tumblers, a spindle mounted to rotate and to.move longitudinally in sleeves upon which the tumblers are mounted, a cam on said spindle between sets of tumblers, a rotary and longitudinally-movable setting-spim dle, two segment-gears loosely mounted on said setting-spindle, connections whereby the first-named spindle may be moved longitudinally by a rotary movement of one of said segments, a locking-bolt movable by one of said segments, and means for connecting the said spindle with either one of said segments, substantially as specified.

6..A spindle for operating tumblers in a combination-lock, consisting of an inner and outer section, one removable from the other, a two-part block forming a bearing for the outer section of the spindle, and means for holding said two-part block in engagement around said section of the spindle, substantially as specified.

'7. A spindle for operating the tumblers of a combination-lock, the said spindle consisting of an inner section and an outer section, one section having an angular portion to en gage in a correspondingly-shaped opening in the other section, a bearing for the outer section of the spindle consisting of two semicircular blocks separable one from the other, the said blocks being provided with an annular channel, and plates for engaging in said annular channel to hold the blocks together, substantially as specified.

8. In a combination-lock, rotary tumblers formed in two series, one series being inde pendent of the other, a rotary and longitudinally-movable spindle for operating the tum blers, one set independently of the other, a rotary and longitudinally-movable settingspindle, a gear loosely mounted on said spindle, a block having a rack engagement with said gear, an angle-lever operated from said block, a connection between said angle-lever and the first-named spindle, whereby upon rocking said angle-lever the spindle may be moved longitudinally, another gear mounted loosely on said setting-spindle, a locking-bar having a rack engagement with said other gear, means for releasing said locking-bar when the tumblers are in releasing position, and means carried by the setting-spindle for engaging with the gears thereon, whereby said gears may be rotated with the spindle, substantially as specified.

9. In a combination-lock, two series of tumblers, a rotary and longitudinally-movable spindle for operating said tumblers, one series independently of the other, an angle-lever, means for rocking said angle-lever, and ball-and-socket connections between said angle-lever and the spindle, substantially as specified.

10. In a combination-lock, a rotary tumbler-disk having a notch in its periphery, and a collar adjustably connected to one side of said disk and having a lug projection to be engaged with a pin extended from another disk, the said collar having notches in its periphery to engage with a pin on its disk, and hold said collar as adjusted, substantially as specified.

11. In a combination-lock, two series of rotary tumblers, a spindle extended through said tumblers and mounted to rotate and to move longitudinally, and means for moving said spindle longitudinally, comprising a lever, a screw-threaded rod having a ball-andsocket connection with the spindle and also having a ball-and-socket connection with the lever, and means for removably connecting the balls of said last-named ball'and-socket connection, toprevent a rotary movement of and mechanism having connection. with said the last-named ball relatively to the screwbar, for releasing the lock-bolt,substantially I0 rod, substantially as specified. as specified.

12. A combination-lock comprisin" two sets of tumblers, each of said tumblers being JAMES MINER notched, and one set being mounted to ro- Witnesses: tate independently of the other set, a bar ex- LUCIUS P. STREETER,

tended across all the tumblers of the two sets, SEWARD KEOK. 

